Friday, March 07, 2008

Jericho

So, there's this miniseries about how factions within the US government, paired with a major corporation in the military industrial complex, create a massive terrorist attack on US soil.

Then, taking advantage of the chaos and fear-mongering, fascist* elements within the government move to take control while the corporation uses its special no-oversight, no-accountability position to administrate the devastated regions -- both for their own profit and so they can control the population without any of the standard protocols of either the occupying military or local law enforcement. It's a become better plotted espionage thriller than 24 ever was on its best day.

It's also sharp commentary on the privatization of warfare, the cozy symbiosis of politicians and massive corporations, out of control contractors in Iraq, and the relationship between the US military and populations they're "administering". It does all this while still casting the US military in an overwhelmingly positive light. The Army = Good Guys. This series casts the "insurgents" as American revolutionaries rising up against unfair administration by an outside force. There's even a Stamp Act reference.

And their version of Paul Bremer shoots a teenage girl to death.

And it's on CBS in prime time.

I'm almost terrified to write about this, in the fear that at some point the buzz will motivate someone at CBS will turn on the channel and realize they're broadcasting perhaps the most genuinely subversive piece of entertainment in the last 8 years.

The pacing this year is incredible, the twists well conceived, the characters well-drawn (even the women, for once). Annoying Mom is gone. Science Gal is back. Skeet Ulrich cannot withstand the galestorm of manliness created by Lenny James and Esai Morales.

Good goddamn job. Jericho last year started poky and finished razor sharp. This season hit the ground running and hasn't had a wasted scene in four episodes. This, my friends, is how you do 8 episodes. Congratulations to all involved.

Actually, as much as I love the concept behind Jericho, and even though it's had some amazing moments... I don't agree.

Sure, it's subversive, but it's just not that good. The first episode of this season really let me down, somewhere around the fifth time Jake screamed, "He killed my dad!"

Hawkins' moments have always been very good, and some early bits with some early bit characters were very striking (the mercenary in the hospital and Jake's flashbacks and the first scene with the new American flag), but overall, it's just been baaad.

Characters are either overwrought or left to the wayside, the plot moves too slow or too fast, and they don't concentrate on the conspiracy bits enough.

That said, the pilot episode treated the nuclear explosions brilliantly. It rivaled even "Threads" at that point. And the threat of radiation poisoning gave the first season some background edge.

And, unfrotunately, it is going to be canceled (again). The ratings the beginning of this season where the lowest ever (from even before the first cancelation). This is taking into account that it is running against reruns.

CBS shot two endings of the last episode. They were not going to make the mistake of canceling the series on a cliffhanger again. I think we know which ending is going to be run.

I'm just pleased to know that the wife and I aren't the only ones out there still watching... tho' apparently it may just be the four of us. I agree 100% with your assessment. Very much enjoying this season.

I think I'd like to see American TV go in that direction. A little anyway. Not most series, but a few each year.Look at British shows that do it. Is it my selective viewing or do they have a better hit/miss ratio than we do.

If you want to look here, take Battlestar Galactica. The first season (13 eps) had the fewest weak spots. Seasons 2 and 3 had at least a few episodes each that made you wonder whether they were worth the effort.

But would this be bad for the writer's end of things? I mean, fewer scripts and shows?

Tom, it is selective viewing -- not necessarily yours, though... just that only the better British shows make it to be seen on American TV. I don't think their hit/miss ratio is significantly better than ours.

I found last season a continual exercise in frustration. I'd get excited by occasional glimpse of the show that could be, and then driven to despair by the way they kept pulling back from the really interesting issues for some stupid family drama.

Now that they're forced to move quickly, and have less to lose, the show is much better.

The post that started this thread was a well written, accurateand concise summary of Jericho.

I admit that there was some serious melodrama in the first season, but it seems to be mostly par for the courseon network tv. The "hip" top 40 soundtrack is rather annoying and an unfortunate way of dating of the show. I like Skeet as the lead- I have moreproblem with how his character seemsto be the go-to-guy saving the town,at least in part in every other episode.

If you can maneuver through that mucky muck... and you should- you'll find a solid show.

The Halliburton / Blackwater commentaryis spot-on and rather brave for network tv in this nation of monster corporate entities. Also, the questions of "who are your neighbors, do you knowthem?" and "what is our disaster education and preparedness?" aresome real issues just under the surfaceof today's America that are not addressednearly enough. I'm not talking fear-mongering so eloquently orchestrated bythe Bush admin and the like in recent years, as much as some intelligent dialog.

I can't remember watching anythingdecent on CBS since the 80's (OR poss the 70's?- M.A.S.H.?). Everything that catches my interest is either on NBC, AMC, FX, HBO or Showtime.

Kudos to CBS... maybe they'll dosomething "nutty", surprise everyoneand renew it for another season.Even a two hour movie or mini seriesto properly wrap it all up would bewelcome. I have a hard time seeinghow they can finish this thought fairly in two episodes.

...Or maybe it should just end,as all thing must eventually do...either way- I'll miss it.

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